Tuesday, October 16, 2012

So here we go. Here goes to starting a blog on
my journey of serving a mission for my Church. First off, for those who didn't
know, I'm a Mormon. I know it, I live it, and most of all I love it with all my
heart. For those of you who dont know what a mormon is, or what a mission is,
here is a site that will help http://mormon.org/ and
http://mormon.org/missionary-work . If you still have any questions,
please feel free to ask :)

My decision to serve a mission has never
been easy and still continues to be a struggle. It all started when I was a
kid. I've had the wonderful blessing to be born into the church. My parents
have always been great examples both in and out of church. Both of my parents
also served missions. Growing up my mom always told me stories and introduced
me to the idea of serving a mission. I saw the joy it brought to her life and
how she grew from that experience. Also every girl in my family has served a
mission. All my aunts on my mom and majority on dads side and all of my
cousins. I actually have two cousins who are serving missions in Uruguay and
St.George Utah. So that leaves me. The girl who is next in line.

It never really hit me till i was out of high school. My first year
of college was great but everyone I talked to frowned upon a mission and
everyone from back home said" you're gunna get married first" But
still i had the desire despite what everyone said. It wasn't a automatic answer
i got. but it came through a set of trials. The pressure and the reality of
this decision set in this past year. As a turned twenty I realized that I only
had a year left. I started to get excited while everyone around me wasn't. My
family was supportive in a way and always brought up the fact i was next, which
was alot of pressure. My boyfriend wasn't too fond of the idea of it, and that
was very understandable.

Over the summer i made the decision to
start my papers. they have been open since end of July/August, but i decided to
work on them slowly since i had about a year to submit them. THEN October
conference came around. Backing up, two months before conference facing the
reality of this was really hard. My parents thought i was going for the wrong
reasons and my boyfriend after telling me he'd wait, changed his mind and both
of those situations upset me. Everything seemed so far away and it seemed
easier to just stay home and not go.While all that was going on I had the
constant reassurance everything was going to be ok. Then conference came
around. On October 6th around 10am my life turned upside down . As most of you
know President Monson announced the change of the mission age for not only men,
but women as well. As he began to say that i just started freaking out. I
called my brother Jared and we just screamed on the phone together. I honestly
couldn't believe it. It seemed so unreal and I seriously couldn't concentrate
for the rest of the day. So many things went through my mind and i didn't know
where to start. All i knew is that every minute that went by that day I was
like " I could be on my mission by now" I was SOOO excited. But it
always seems that everything that happens in my life likes to happen all at
once. My parents just told me to calm down and continue planning to send my
papers when i got home . My boyfriend didn't say anything which was
understandable. All i wanted was someone to be happy with me. Like i said this
decision has never been easy and still continues to test my diligence. I would
love to go home right now and just submit my papers. that would be awesome. But
for some reason i'm in Idaho. I have the wonderful opportunity to be at school
till December. There have been things like this that have come
up that I think are unfair but everything happens for a reason and I try to
look at the eternal perspective of things. Despite all the crazy things life
throws at me...

I am going with the decision that I've prayed
for years about. and had the same multiple answer to. I am not going because
I'm trying to prove something to anyone. I am going because I want to serve to
the Lord. I love the gospel and I want to share it with anyone that I can. I
want to bring people unto Christ. I want others to experience the joy and peace
the gospel brings to my life. I want to be the best mother and Wife that i can
be. I want my children to be proud and follow the example both my husband and I
make. I am studying and trying to prepare as the best I can. I know who I am
and i know that this is the right thing for me to do. I would love for everyone
to understand that my desire to serve is honest and sincere. It has never been
easy, but putting the Lord first and accepting whatever he has in store for my life is what I'm going to do. Whether our beliefs are the same or completely
different. This work has changed my life and I am grateful for the guidance and
truth I receive from it. I know that our Heavenly Father's plan is the great
plan of eternal happiness. I know that he knows us and loves us. I know
this gospel is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is another
testament of Christ. I know that Jesus is the Christ and He is our
Savior. I know many of you are not of my faith and I respect, honor,
and am grateful that I get to share this experience with you through this blog

About Me

My Name is Janina Lopez-Carrasco :) I'm a 20 year old studying Pre-Med at BYU-Idaho. I just finished my 3rd year of school and i'm putting that on hold to Serve a mission for my church. I'm a mormon, I know it i live it, i love it. I have been called to serve a mission in the Guatemala City North mission. I seriously Cant wait! :) This blog is my journey before, during, and after the mission. Enjoy! ♥

Alma 26:6
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.